Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal and a method of controlling a mobile terminal may be provided. The mobile terminal may include a display to display one of wallpapers including at least one icon, and a controller to display at least two of the wallpapers on the display when receiving an input for adding an icon to one of the wallpapers. Accordingly, reduced wallpapers may be displayed on the display. A user may intuitively select a wallpaper where an added icon may be located.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Application No. 10-2010-0057384, filed Jun. 17, 2010, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments may relate to a mobile terminal and a control method thereof for displaying reduced wallpapers on a display such that a user can intuitively select a wallpaper where an icon to be added may be located.

2. Background

Functions of terminals (such as personal computers, laptop computers, cellular phones and the like) may be diversified, and the terminals may be constructed in the form of a multimedia player having multiple functions of capturing pictures or moving images, playing music, moving image files and games and/or receiving broadcasting programs.

Terminals may include mobile terminals and stationary terminals. The mobile terminals may be classified into handheld terminals and vehicle mount terminals based on whether users can personally carry the terminals.

To support and enhance functions of a terminal, a structural part and/or a software part of the terminal may be improved.

Terminals may include mobile terminals to provide more complex and various functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate forms of a mobile terminal and display screens according to various embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a proximity depth of a proximity sensor;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation of a mobile terminal (shown in FIG. 1) according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an operation of a mobile terminal to display a wallpaper on a display;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an operation of a mobile terminal to generate an event of adding an icon to a wallpaper;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of displaying wallpapers on a display;

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining an operation of a mobile terminal as shown in FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate implementations of an event of adding an object to a wallpaper;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are views for explaining an operation of a mobile terminal; and

FIGS. 14 through 18 are views for explaining an operation of a mobile terminal to add an icon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment may provide a mobile terminal and a control method thereof for displaying reduced wallpapers on a display such that a user may intuitively select a wallpaper where an icon to be added may be located.

Embodiments may now be described more fully with reference to accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments may be shown. Embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to embodiments as set forth herein; rather embodiments may be provided so this disclosure may be thorough and complete, and may fully convey a concept of this document to those skilled in the art.

A mobile terminal may be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, suffixes “module” and “unit” may be provided to components of the mobile terminal in consideration of only facilitation of description and may not have meanings or functions that discriminate from each other.

A mobile terminal may include a cellular phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, personal digital assistants (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation system and/or etc.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment. Other embodiments, configurations and arrangements may also be provided. As shown, FIG. 1 shows that a mobile terminal 100 may include a radio communication unit 110, an audio/video (A/V) input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, an interface 170, a controller 180, and a power supply 190. Not all of the components shown in FIG. 1 may be essential parts, and a number of components included in the mobile terminal 100 may vary. Components of the mobile terminal 100 may now be described.

The radio communication unit 110 may include at least one module that enables radio communication between the mobile terminal 100 and a radio communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and a network in which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the radio communication unit 110 may include a broadcasting receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a local area communication module 114 (or short-range communication module), and a position-location information module 115.

The broadcasting receiving module 111 may receive broadcasting signals and/or broadcasting related information from an external broadcasting management server through a broadcasting channel. The broadcasting channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel, and the broadcasting management server may be a server that generates and transmits broadcasting signals and/or broadcasting related information or a server that receives previously created broadcasting signals and/or broadcasting related information and transmits the broadcasting signals and/or broadcasting related information to a terminal.

The broadcasting signals may include not only TV broadcasting signals, radio broadcasting signals, and data broadcasting signals but also signals in the form of a combination of a TV broadcasting signal and a radio broadcasting signal. The broadcasting related information may be information on a broadcasting channel, a broadcasting program or a broadcasting service provider, and may be provided even through a mobile communication network. In the latter case, the broadcasting related information may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcasting related information may exist in various forms. For example, the broadcasting related information may exist in the form of an electronic program guide (EPG) of a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) system or in the form of an electronic service guide (ESG) of a digital video broadcast-handheld (DVB-H) system.

The broadcasting receiving module 111 may receive broadcasting signals using various broadcasting systems. More particularly, the broadcasting receiving module 111 may receive digital broadcasting signals using digital broadcasting systems such as a digital multimedia broadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T) system, a digital multimedia broadcasting-satellite (DMB-S) system, a media forward link only (MediaFLO) system, a DVB-H and integrated services digital broadcast-terrestrial (ISDB-T) systems. The broadcasting receiving module 111 may receive signals from broadcasting systems providing broadcasting signals other than the above-described digital broadcasting systems.

The broadcasting signals and/or broadcasting related information received through the broadcasting receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160. The mobile communication module 112 may transmit/receive a radio signal to/from at least one of a base station, an external terminal and a server on a mobile communication network. The radio signal may include a voice call signal, a video telephony call signal or data in various forms according to transmission and reception of text/multimedia messages.

The wireless Internet module 113 may correspond to a module for wireless Internet access and may be included in the mobile terminal 100 or may be externally attached to the mobile terminal 100. Wireless LAN (WLAN or Wi-Fi), wireless broadband (Wibro), world interoperability for microwave access (Wimax), high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and/or so on may be used as a wireless Internet technique.

The local area communication module 114 may correspond to a module for local area communication. Further, Bluetooth®, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra wideband (UWB) and/or ZigBee® may be used as a local area communication technique.

The position-location information module 115 may confirm or obtain a position of the mobile terminal 100. The position-location information module 115 may obtain position information by using a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). The GNSS is a terminology describing a radio navigation satellite system that revolves around the earth and transmits reference signals to predetermined types of radio navigation receivers such that the radio navigation receivers can determine their positions on the earth's surface or near the earth's surface. The GNSS may include a global positioning system (GPS) of the United States, Galileo of Europe, a global orbiting navigational satellite system (GLONASS) of Russia, COMPASS of China, and a quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS) of Japan, for example.

A global positioning system (GPS) module is a representative example of the position-location information module 115. The GPS module 115 may calculate information on distances between one point or object and at least three satellites and information on a time when a distance information is measured and apply trigonometry to the obtained distance information to obtain three-dimensional position information on the point or object according to latitude, longitude and altitude at a predetermined time.

A method of calculating position and time information using three satellites and correcting a calculated position and time information using another satellite may also be used. Additionally, the GPS module 115 may continuously calculate the current position in real time and calculate velocity information using location or position information.

As shown in FIG. 1, the A/V input unit 120 may input an audio signal or a video signal and include a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 may process image frames of still images or moving images obtained by an image sensor in a video telephony mode or a photographing mode. The processed image frames may be displayed on a display 151, which may be a touch screen.

The image frames processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 or may be transmitted to an external device through the radio communication unit 110. The mobile terminal 100 may also include at least two cameras 121.

The microphone 122 may receive an external audio signal in a call mode, a recording mode or a speech recognition mode and process the received audio signal into electric audio data. The audio data may then be converted into a form that can be transmitted to a mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 and output in the call mode. The microphone 122 may employ various noise removal algorithms (or noise canceling algorithm) for removing or reducing noise generated when the external audio signal is received.

The user input unit 130 may receive input data for controlling operation of the mobile terminal 100 from a user. The user input unit 130 may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (constant voltage/capacitance), a jog wheel, a jog switch and/or so on.

The sensing unit 140 may sense a current state of the mobile terminal 100, such as an open/close state of the mobile terminal 100, a position of the mobile terminal 100, whether a user touches the mobile terminal 100, a direction of the mobile terminal 100, and acceleration/deceleration of the mobile terminal 100, and generate a sensing signal for controlling operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, in an example of a slide phone, the sensing unit 140 may sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. Further, the sensing unit 140 may sense whether the power supply 190 supplies power and/or whether the interface 170 is connected to an external device. The sensing unit 140 may also include a proximity sensor 141.

The output unit 150 may generate visual, auditory and/or tactile output and may include the display 151 (or display module), an audio output module 152, an alarm 153 (or alarm module) and a haptic module 154. The display 151 may display information processed by the mobile terminal 100. The display 151 may display a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to a telephone call when the mobile terminal 100 is in the call mode. The display 151 may also display a captured and/or received image, a UI or a GUI when the mobile terminal 100 is in the video telephony mode or the photographing mode.

Additionally, the display 151 may include at least one of a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode display, a flexible display and a three-dimensional display. Some of these displays may be of a transparent type or a light transmissive type. That is, the display 151 may include a transparent display.

The transparent display may include a transparent liquid crystal display. The rear structure of the display 151 may also be of a light transmissive type. Accordingly, a user may see an object located behind a body of the mobile terminal 100 through the transparent area of the body of the mobile terminal 100 that is occupied by the display 151.

The mobile terminal 100 may also include at least two displays 151. For example, the mobile terminal 100 may include a plurality of displays 151 that are arranged on a single face at a predetermined distance or integrated displays. The plurality of displays 151 may also be arranged on different sides.

Further, when the display 151 and a sensor sensing touch (hereafter referred to as a touch sensor) form a layered structure that is referred to as a touch screen, the display 151 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device. The touch sensor may be in the form of a touch film, a touch sheet, and/or a touch pad, for example.

The touch sensor may convert a variation in pressure applied to a specific portion of the display 151 or a variation in capacitance generated at a specific portion of the display 151 into an electric input signal. The touch sensor may sense pressure of touch as well as position and area of the touch.

When the user applies a touch input to the touch sensor, a signal corresponding to the touch input may be transmitted to a touch controller. The touch controller may then process the signal and transmit data corresponding to the processed signal to the controller 180. Accordingly, the controller 180 may detect a touched portion of the display 151.

The proximity sensor 141 of the sensing unit 140 may be located in an internal region of the mobile terminal 100, surrounded by the touch screen, and/or near the touch screen. The proximity sensor 141 may sense an object approaching a predetermined sensing face or an object located near the proximity sensor using an electromagnetic force or infrared rays without having mechanical contact. The proximity sensor 141 may have a lifetime longer than a contact sensor and may thus have a wide application in the mobile terminal 100.

The proximity sensor 141 may include a transmission type photo-electric sensor, a direct reflection type photo-electric sensor, a mirror reflection type photo-electric sensor, a high-frequency oscillating proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and/or an infrared proximity sensor. A capacitive touch screen may be constructed such that proximity of a pointer is detected through a variation in an electric field based on the proximity of the pointer. The touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor 141.

For ease of explanation, an action of the pointer approaching the touch screen without actually touching the touch screen may be referred to as a proximity touch and an action of bringing the pointer into contact with the touch screen may be referred to as a contact touch. The proximity touch point of the pointer on the touch screen may correspond to a point of the touch screen at which the pointer is perpendicular to the touch screen.

The proximity sensor 141 may sense the proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch velocity, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, a proximity touch moving state, etc.). Information corresponding to the sensed proximity touch action and proximity touch pattern may then be displayed on the touch screen.

The audio output module 152 may output audio data received from the radio communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a call signal receiving mode, a telephone call mode or a recording mode, a speech recognition mode and a broadcasting receiving mode. The audio output module 152 may output audio signals related to functions, such as a call signal incoming tone and a message incoming tone, performed in the mobile terminal 100. The audio output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and/or the like. The audio output module 152 may output sounds through an earphone jack. The user may hear the sounds by connecting an earphone to the earphone jack.

The alarm 153 may output a signal for indicating generation of an event of the mobile terminal 100. For example, alarms may be generated when receiving a call signal, receiving a message, inputting a key signal, and/or inputting touch. The alarm 153 may also output signals in forms different from video signals or audio signals, for example, a signal for indicating generation of an event through vibration. The video signals or the audio signals may also be output through the display 151 or the audio output module 152.

The haptic module 154 may generate various haptic effects that the user may feel. One example of the haptic effects is vibration. Intensity and/or pattern of vibration generated by the haptic module 154 may also be controlled. For example, different vibrations may be combined and output and/or may be sequentially output.

The haptic module 154 may generate a variety of haptic effects including an effect of stimulus based on an arrangement of pins vertically moving against a contact skin surface, an effect of stimulus according to a jet force or sucking force of air through a jet hole or a sucking hole, an effect of stimulus of rubbing the skin, an effect of stimulus based on contact of an electrode, an effect of stimulus using an electrostatic force, and an effect based on a reproduction of cold and warmth using an element capable of absorbing or radiating heat in addition to vibrations.

The haptic module 154 may not only transmit haptic effects through direct contact but may also allow the user to feel haptic effects through a kinesthetic sense of the user's fingers or arms. The mobile terminal 100 may also include a plurality of haptic modules 154.

The memory 160 may store a program for operation of the controller 180 and temporarily store input/output data such as a phone book, messages, still images, and/or moving images. The memory 160 may also store data about vibrations and sounds in various patterns that are output from when a touch input is applied to the touch screen.

The memory 160 may include at least a flash memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro type memory, a card type memory, such as SD or XD memory, a random access memory (RAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM) magnetic memory, a magnetic disk and/or an optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may also operate in relation to a web storage performing a storing function of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface 170 may serve as a path to external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface 170 may receive data from the external devices or power and transmit the data or power to internal components of the mobile terminal 100 or transmit data of the mobile terminal 100 to the external devices. For example, the interface 170 may include a wired/wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired/wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having a user identification module, an audio I/O port, a video I/O port, and/or an earphone port.

The interface 170 may also interface with a user identification module that is a chip that stores information for authenticating authority to use the mobile terminal 100. For example, the user identification module may be a user identify module (UIM), a subscriber identify module (SIM) and a universal subscriber identify module (USIM). An identification device including the user identification module may also be manufactured in the form of a smart card. Accordingly, the identification device may be connected to the mobile terminal 100 through a port of the interface 170.

The interface 170 may also be a path through which power from an external cradle is provided to the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to the external cradle or a path through which various command signals input by the user through the cradle are transmitted to the mobile terminal 100. The various command signals or power input from the cradle may be used as signals for confirming whether the mobile terminal 100 is correctly set in the cradle.

The controller 180 may control overall operations of the mobile terminal 100. For example, the controller 180 may perform control and processing for voice communication, data communication and/or video telephony. The controller 180 may also include a multimedia module 181 for playing multimedia. The multimedia module 181 may be included in the controller 180 (as shown in FIG. 1) or may be separated from the controller 180.

The controller 180 may perform a pattern recognition process capable of recognizing handwriting input or picture-drawing input applied to the touch screen as characters or images. The power supply 190 may receive external power and internal power and provide power required for operations of the components of the mobile terminal 100 under control of the controller 180.

According to hardware implementation, embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented using at least one of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and/or electrical units for executing functions. Embodiments may be implemented by the controller 180.

According to software implementation, embodiments such as procedures or functions may be implemented with a separate software module that executes at least one function or operation. Software codes may be implemented according to a software application written in an appropriate software language. The software codes may be stored in the memory 160 and executed by the controller 180.

FIG. 2A is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal (or a handheld terminal) 100 according to an embodiment.

The mobile terminal 100 may have a bar type terminal body. However, embodiments are not limited to a bar type terminal and may be applied to terminals of various types including a slide type, a folder type, a swing type and swivel type terminals having at least two bodies that are relatively movably combined.

The terminal body may include a case (a casing, a housing, a cover, etc.) forming an exterior of the mobile terminal 100. In the present embodiment, the case may include a front case 101 and a rear case 102. Various electronic components may be arranged in a space formed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. At least one middle case may be additionally provided between the front case 101 and the rear case 102.

The cases may be formed of plastics through injection molding or made of a metal material, such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).

The display 151, the audio output unit 152, the camera 121, the user input unit 130/131 and 132, the microphone 122 and the interface 170 may be arranged in the terminal body, and more specifically in the front case 101.

The display 151 may occupy most of the main face of the front case 101. The audio output unit 152 and the camera 121 may be arranged in a region in proximity to a first end of the display 151 and the user input unit 131 and the microphone 122 are provided in a region in proximity to the second end of the display 151. The user input unit 132 and the interface 170 may be arranged on sides of the front case 101 and the rear case 102.

The user input unit 130 may operate to receive commands for controlling an operation of the mobile terminal 100 and may include a plurality of operating units 131 and 132. The operating units 131 and 132 may be referred to as manipulating portions and employ any tactile manner in which a user operates the operating units 131 and 132 while having a tactile feeling.

The first and second operating units 131 and 132 may receive various inputs. For example, the first operating unit 131 may receive commands such as start, end and scroll, and the second operating unit 132 may receive commands such as control of the volume of sound output from the audio output unit 152 or conversion of the display 151 to a touch recognition mode.

FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2A according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a camera 121′ may be additionally attached to the rear side of the terminal body (i.e., the rear case 102). The camera 121′ may have a photographing direction opposite to the camera 121 shown in FIG. 2A and may have pixels different from those of the camera 121 shown in FIG. 2A.

For example, the camera 121 may have low pixels such that the camera 121 may capture an image of a face of a user and transmit the image to a receiving part in case of video telephony while the camera 121′ has high pixels because the camera 121′ may capture an image of a general object and may not immediately transmit the image. The cameras 121 and 121′ can be attached to the terminal body such that the cameras 121, 121′ can be rotated or pop-up.

A flash bulb 123 and a mirror 124 may be additionally provided in proximity to the camera 121′. The flash bulb 123 may light an object when the camera 121′ takes a picture of the object. The mirror 124 may be used for the user to look at his/her face in the mirror when the user wants to self-photograph himself/herself using the camera 121′.

An audio output unit 152′ may be additionally provided on the rear side of the terminal body. The audio output unit 152′ may achieve a stereo function with the audio output unit 152 shown in FIG. 2A and may be used for a speaker phone mode when the mobile terminal 100 is used for a telephone call.

A broadcasting signal receiving antenna may be additionally provided (or attached) to the side of the terminal body in addition to an antenna for telephone calls. The antenna constructing a part of the broadcasting receiving module 111 (shown in FIG. 1) can be set in the terminal body such that the antenna can be pulled out of the terminal body.

The power supply 190 for providing power to the handheld terminal 100 may be set in the terminal body. The power supply 190 may be included in the terminal body or may be detachably attached to the terminal body.

A touch pad 135 for sensing touch may be additionally attached to the rear case 102. The touch pad 135 may be of a light transmission type as the display 151. In this example, if the display 151 outputs visual information through both sides thereof, the visual information may be recognized through the touch pad 135. The information output through both sides of the display 151 may be controlled by the touch pad 135. Otherwise, a display may be additionally attached to the touch pad 135 such that a touch screen can be arranged even in the rear case 102.

The touch pad 135 may operate in connection with the display 151 of the front case 101. The touch pad 135 can be located in parallel with the display 151 behind the display 151. The touch panel 135 can be identical to or smaller than the display 151 in size.

FIGS. 2C and 2D illustrate the mobile terminal 100 and the display 151 based on various embodiments. Other embodiments may also be provided.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the display 151 may include a first display and a second display that are physically separated from each other. In a folder type or slide type mobile terminal having two bodies connected through a hinge or a slide, the first display (or main display) may be formed on an inner face or an outer face of one of the bodies and the second display (or sub display) may be formed on the inner face or the outer face of the other body. The sub-display may be separated from the mobile terminal and may be detachably combined with the mobile terminal body through an interface to display data from the mobile terminal 100.

The display 151 may include first and second displays that are logically separated from each other in a display panel, as shown in FIG. 2D.

FIG. 3 illustrates a proximity depth of a proximity sensor.

As shown in FIG. 3, when a pointer such as a user's finger approaches the touch screen, the proximity sensor located inside or near the touch screen senses the approach and outputs a proximity signal.

The proximity sensor may be constructed such that it outputs a proximity signal based on a distance between the pointer approaching the touch screen and the touch screen (referred to as a proximity depth).

The distance in which the proximity signal is output when the pointer approaches the touch screen may be referred to as a detection distance. The proximity depth may be known by using a plurality of proximity sensors having different detection distances and comparing proximity signals respectively output from the proximity sensors.

FIG. 3 shows a section of the touch screen in which proximity sensors capable of sensing three proximity depths are provided. Proximity sensors capable of sensing less than three or more than four proximity depths may be provided in the touch screen.

More specifically, when a pointer completely comes into contact with the touch screen (D0), it may be recognized as a contact touch. When the pointer is located within a distance D1 from the touch screen, it may be recognized as a proximity touch of a first proximity depth. When the pointer is located in a range between the distance D1 and a distance D2 from the touch screen, it may be recognized as a proximity touch of a second proximity depth. When the pointer is located in a range between the distance D2 and a distance D3 from the touch screen, it may be recognized as a proximity touch of a third proximity depth. When the pointer is located greater than the distance D3 from the touch screen, it may be recognized as a cancellation of a proximity touch.

Accordingly, the controller 180 may recognize the proximity touch as various input signals based on the proximity distance and proximity position of the pointer with respect to the touch screen, and the controller 180 may perform various operation controls based on the input signals.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an operation of the mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a view for explaining an operation of the mobile terminal 100 to display a wallpaper on the display 151, as shown in FIG. 4. Other embodiments may also be provided.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the controller 180 may display a wallpaper W on the display 151 in operation S10.

The wallpaper W may be an image displayed on the display 151 of the mobile terminal 100 while an application to be displayed on an overall area or part of the display 151 is not executed, although the display 151 is activated. The display 151 may be in an inactivated state and/or in an activated state. The inactivated state may correspond to a state in which the display 151 is turned off while the mobile terminal 100 is turned on. When a user's input or a control signal of the controller 180 is applied to the mobile terminal 100 with the display 151 turned off, the display 151 may enter the activated state. The activated state may correspond to a state in which a specific application is not executed while the display 151 is activated or an execution state of the specific application is not displayed on the display 151 although the specific application is executed. In this example, the wallpaper W may be displayed on the display 151.

The wallpaper W may display objects OB such as widget icons WD and icons I. The wallpaper W may display the widget icons WD and the icons I based on whether or not information may be dynamically displayed through icons. For example, a first widget icon WD1 may correspond to time and weather widgets. The controller 180 may change the display of the first widget icon WD1 based on a lapse of time and/or based on a weather variation. The icons I may function as media for executing specific applications. For example, if a music icon is selected, a player application capable of playing mp3 may be executed. Additionally, if a subway icon is selected, an application capable of displaying a subway timetable may be executed. The widget icons WD and the icons I may be represented as the objects OB in the following description except additionally marked parts.

Positions and space widths of the objects OB may depend on their attributes. That is, a display form of each object OB may vary based on the attribute thereof. For example, when the user wants to display the first widget icon WD1 having a large size on the wallpaper W, the wallpaper W may be required to have a space capable of accommodating the first widget icon WD1. If the wallpaper W does not have the space, the first widget icon WD1 may not be located on the wallpaper W. In this example, it may be required to delete other objects OB located on the wallpaper W or generate a new wallpaper to create space for displaying the first widget icon WD1.

Multiple wallpapers W may exist. That is, there may be multiple wallpapers W capable of displaying the objects OB. For example, the wallpaper W shown in FIG. 5 may correspond to a first wallpaper W1 and other wallpapers W that are not shown in FIG. 5 may exist. The user may drag or flick the display 151 to the left or to the right to display a wallpaper W on the left or the right of the first wallpaper W1 on the display 151.

After the wallpaper W is displayed on the display 151, an event of adding an object OB to the wallpaper W may be performed in operation S20. This may also be referred to as an event of adding an object.

The adding of the object OB to the wallpaper W may be performed or initiated by a user's input or a control operation of the controller 180. For example, the user may touch a virtual button B displayed on the display 151 to add the object OB to the wallpaper W. As shown in FIG. 6, when the user touches the virtual button B displayed on the display 151, the controller 180 may display icons I that can be added to the wallpaper W on the display 151. The user can touch one of the displayed icons I to add the touched icon I to the wallpaper W. The adding of the object OB to the wallpaper W may be explained in more detail later.

When an event of adding of the object OB to the wallpaper W is performed, multiple wallpapers W may be displayed on the display 151 in operation S30.

When an event of adding of the object OB to the wallpaper W is performed, the controller 180 may determine whether or not the wallpaper W currently displayed on the display 151 has a vacancy. If the currently displayed wallpaper W does not have the vacancy, multiple wallpapers W may be displayed on the display 151. For example, the first wallpaper W1 currently displayed on the display 151 may not have a vacancy for displaying the added object OB because the first wallpaper W1 includes the widget icons WD and the icons I, as shown in FIG. 5. In this example, the controller 180 may display another wallpaper W capable of displaying the added object OB on the display 151 to show the wallpaper W to the user. To secure a space for displaying the other wallpaper W on the display 151, the controller 180 may reduce an area of the first wallpaper W1 currently displayed on the display 151. The controller 180 may display the other wallpaper W in the space secured by reducing the area of the first wallpaper W1.

When the multiple wallpapers W are displayed on the display 151, the added object OB may be located (or provided) in a specific position on the multiple wallpapers W in operation S40.

At least one of the displayed wallpapers W may have a vacancy such that the wallpaper is capable of displaying the added object OB. The user may add the object OB to the wallpaper W having the vacancy by using a touch operation. If the displayed wallpapers W do not have a vacancy capable of displaying the added object OB, the user may touch (or touch and drag) the display 151 to the left or to the right to search for a wallpaper W having a vacancy such that the wallpaper is capable of displaying the added object OB. As described above, the size and/or the shape of the object OB may depend on its attribute. For example, a specific object may have a size of 16×16 while another object may have a size of 32×32.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation S30 of displaying multiple wallpapers on the display 151, as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the mobile terminal 100, as shown in FIG. 7. Other embodiments may also be provided.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the operation S30 of displaying multiple wallpapers W on the display 151 may include an operation S31 of reducing an area of the currently displayed wallpaper W.

As described above, the controller 180 may display multiple wallpapers W on the display 151 when the currently displayed wallpaper W does not have a vacancy capable of displaying the added object OB. To display the multiple wallpapers W on the display 151, a space for displaying the multiple wallpapers W may have to be secured. The controller 180 may reduce the area of the wallpaper W displayed on the overall area of the display 151 to secure the space for displaying the multiple wallpapers W. For example, when the event of adding the object OB to the wallpaper W is performed while the first wallpaper W1 is displayed on the overall area of the display 151, the controller 180 may reduce the area of the first wallpaper W. Then, the controller 180 may display second, third, fourth and fifth wallpapers W2, W3, W4 and W5 in the space secured by reducing the first wallpaper W1.

When the wallpaper W is reduced, the controller 180 may display wallpaper indicators WI on the display 151. The wallpaper indicators WI may correspond to respective wallpapers W. For example, when the user generates seven wallpapers, seven wallpaper indicators may be displayed on the display 151. However, only five of the seven wallpapers W are displayed on the display 151 (in FIG. 8) due to a restriction on the area of the display 151.

When the currently displayed wallpaper W is reduced, an activated wallpaper W may be located at a center of the display 151 in operation S32.

The activated wallpaper W may correspond to a wallpaper W that was displayed on the display 151 before the currently displayed wallpaper is reduced. The activated wallpaper may be a wallpaper displayed at a center of the display 151 by touching the reduced wallpaper W. For example, the activated wallpaper W may correspond to the first wallpaper W1, as shown in FIG. 8. The wallpaper indicators WI may indicate the currently activated wallpaper W. That is, the wallpaper indicator WI corresponding to the first wallpaper W1 may be indicated differently from the other six wallpaper indicators WI when the first wallpaper W1 is activated, as shown in FIG. 8. The activation may be different from activation when there is a vacancy such that the wallpaper is capable of displaying an object OB, as may be described below. That is, activation in operation S32 may represent that the activated wallpaper W can be displayed on the display 151 when the operation of displaying the wallpaper W on the overall area of the display 151 is performed.

Subsequently, the regions occupied by objects OB may be darkened in operation S33.

Various objects OB in addition to an icon I that the user wants to newly add may be provided on the wallpaper W. Accordingly, a certain wallpaper, such as the first and fourth wallpapers W1 and W4, may not have a vacancy for displaying an added object OB. A certain wallpaper, such as the second wallpaper W2, may have an object OB located thereon. In this example, the new object OB may not be added to the second wallpaper W2. Accordingly, the controller 180 may inactivate regions where objects have been arranged and may make the inactivated regions darker so as to visually represent the inactivated regions.

The controller 180 may determine whether or not the wallpaper W has a vacancy capable of displaying the added object OB in operation S34 and generate a new wallpaper W when the wallpaper W does not have the vacancy in operation S35.

The wallpaper W may not have the vacancy capable of displaying the added object OB. For example, when two wallpapers are currently displayed on the display 151 and objects OB are located over the two wallpapers, the controller 180 may add a new wallpaper for displaying the added object OB.

When the wallpaper W has the vacancy for displaying the added object OB, the vacancy for displaying the added object OB may be displayed in operation S36.

The wallpaper W may have a vacancy in which an object OB may be additionally provided. For example, the second wallpaper W2 may have a vacancy V, as shown in FIG. 8. The controller may display the vacancy V brighter to visually inform the user that the second wallpaper W2 has the vacancy V. The controller 180 may further indicate a boundary line along the outline of the vacancy V.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate implementations of adding an object to wallpaper. Other embodiments may also be provided.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the mobile terminal 100 may add an object OB to the wallpaper W in various manners.

As shown in FIG. 9 (a), when the user touches the virtual button B, icons I that may be added are displayed on the display 151. The user may select a first icon I1 to be added from the displayed icons I by touching the first icon I1 with a finger F (or other pointing device). The user may drag the selected first icon I1 in a specific direction.

As shown in FIG. 9 (b), when the user selects the first icon I1 and drags the selected first icon I1, a first menu screen MW, on which the icons I are displayed, may slide (or be provided) to a bottom of the display 151. The first wallpaper W1 may then be displayed on a space created by sliding (or providing) of the first menu screen MW. Further, the user may continuously touch the first icon I1 to move the first icon I1 from the first menu screen MW to the first wallpaper W1. Although FIG. 9 shows movement of the first icon I1 from the first menu screen MW to the first wallpaper W1, the above touch-and-drag method may be applied to an example that an icon I located on a specific wallpaper is moved to another wallpaper.

As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the user may long touch, with a finger F, a vacancy of the display 151 in which any object OB is not located. Additionally, the user may press a specific button MB (i.e., a menu button).

As shown in FIG. 10 (b), when the user long touches the vacancy of the display 151 or presses the specific button MB, the controller 180 may display a second menu screen ME on the display 151. The user may select a widget icon or an icon from the second menu screen ME or its lower menu to add the selected icon to the wallpaper W.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are views for explaining an operation of the mobile terminal 100, as shown in FIG. 4. Other embodiments may also be provided.

Referring to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the mobile terminal 100 may display reduced wallpapers W on the display 151 such that the user may intuitively select a wallpaper on which an added icon may be located.

Referring to FIG. 11 (a), the first wallpaper W1 may display various objects OB. The user may perform an event of adding an object. For example, the user may touch the virtual button B and/or press the specific button MB to start the event.

Referring to FIG. 11 (b), when the event is started, a size of the first wallpaper W1 displayed on an overall area of the display 151 may be reduced. The controller 180 may display the first wallpaper W1 as a continuously decreasing object such that the user may be interested in operation of the mobile terminal 100. The display 151 may display the first icon I1 selected by the user.

As shown in FIG. 11 (c), the second, third, fourth and fifth wallpapers W2, W3, W4 and W5 may be displayed in an area obtained by reducing the first wallpaper W1. Further, the wallpaper indicators WI that indicate the currently activated wallpapers W may be displayed at the upper part of the display 151. The controller 180 may display a vacancy V in the displayed wallpaper W, in which the added first icon I1 may be located. That is, the controller 180 may inactivate an area where the first icon I1 may not be located due to objects OB that occupy the area to make the area darker and activate an area where any object OB is not located and thus the first icon I1 may be displayed to make the area brighter.

As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the user may select the first icon I1 and drag the selected first icon I1 to the vacancy V. Then, the first icon I1 is located on the second wallpaper VV2, as shown in FIG. 12 (b).

As shown in FIG. 12 (c), the controller 180 may display the second wallpaper W2 including the first icon I1 added by the user at a center of the display 151.

As shown in FIG. 12 (d), the controller 180 may enlarge the second wallpaper W2 including the first icon I1 and display the second wallpaper W2 on the display 151. That is, the second wallpaper W2 may be enlarged and displayed on an overall area of the display 151. The controller 180 may display the second wallpaper W2 as a continuously increasing object such that the user may be interested in operation of the mobile terminal 100.

As shown in FIG. 13, the enlarged second wallpaper W2 including the first icon I1 is displayed on an overall area of the display 151.

FIGS. 14 through 18 are views for explaining an operation of the mobile terminal 100 to add an icon, as shown in FIG. 4.

The mobile terminal 100 may add an icon I to the wallpaper W in various manners.

As shown in FIG. 14 (a), the display 151 may display the first wallpaper W1 and the second wallpaper W2. Since two wallpaper indicators WI are displayed on the display 151, a total number of wallpapers equals two (i.e., the first and second wallpapers W1 and W2). An icon I to be added may be displayed in a region of the display 151 that does not correspond to the first wallpaper W1 and the second wallpaper W2.

As shown in FIG. 14 (b), the controller 180 may display a third wallpaper W3 as a new wallpaper. The currently displayed first wallpaper W1 and the second wallpaper W2 include objects OB, and thus the first wallpaper W1 and the second wallpaper W2 do not have a vacancy for displaying the icon I selected by the user. Accordingly, the controller 180 may generate the third wallpaper W3 to additionally display the icon I. The third wallpaper W3 may be a newly generated, and thus the third wallpaper W3 may not include an object OB. Accordingly, the user may add the icon I, a new object OB, to the third wallpaper W3.

As shown in FIG. 15 (a), the user may want to add an icon I having a specific shape and size to the wallpaper W. The controller 180 may display a space for displaying the added icon I based on the shape and size of the icon I. For example, the controller 180 may inactivate the overall area of the third wallpaper W3 that is occupied by objects OB and may have no vacancy for displaying the icon I. The second wallpaper W2 may have a first vacancy V1 that is not occupied by an object OB. However, the icon I may not be fitted in the first vacancy V1 because of its shape and size. Accordingly, the controller 180 may also inactivate the overall area of the second wallpaper W2. The first wallpaper W1 may have a second vacancy V2 that is not occupied by an object OB. Further, the second vacancy V2 may have a shape and a size suitable for the shape and the size of the icon I. Accordingly, the controller 180 may activate the second vacancy V2 in the first wallpaper W1 and inactivate the remaining part of the first wallpaper W1. That is, the controller 180 may display the area where the added icon I may be located such that the area is discriminated from other areas to improve ease of use.

As shown in FIG. 15 (b), the controller 180 may display an appropriate vacancy V in consideration of the size of an icon I to be added.

As shown in FIG. 16 (a), the second wallpaper W2 (from among the first, second and third wallpapers W1, W2 and W3) may not have a vacancy for displaying the added icon I. Accordingly, the controller 180 may activate a second vacancy V2 and a third vacancy V3 in which the icon I may be located and may inactivate other areas.

As shown in FIG. 16 (b), the controller 180 may display only a wallpaper W having a vacancy for displaying an icon I. More specifically, the second wallpaper W2 may not have an appropriate space in FIG. 16 (a), and thus the controller 180 may display only the first wallpaper W1 and the third wallpaper W3 on the display 151.

As shown in FIG. 17, the controller 180 may change the display of wallpaper indicators WI such that the user may be intuitively aware of an appropriate location for displaying an icon I. The wallpaper indicators WI respectively correspond to wallpapers W, as described above. Accordingly, the controller 180 may change the display of the wallpaper indicators WI respectively corresponding to wallpapers to inform the user of a wallpaper having a vacancy for displaying the added icon I. For example, the third wallpaper indicator WI3 and the seventh wallpaper indicator WI7 may have a shape different from other wallpaper indicators, as show in FIG. 17. The third wallpaper indicator WI3 having a shape different from others may represent that the third wallpaper W3 corresponding to the third wallpaper indicator WI3 has a vacancy V2 for displaying the icon I. Further, a seventh wallpaper corresponding to the seventh wallpaper indicator WI7 may have a vacancy for displaying the icon I, which is not shown in FIG. 17. That is, even when all the wallpapers may not be displayed due to a physical size limit of the display 151, a wallpaper having a vacancy may be indicated by the wallpaper indicator corresponding thereto, which may improve the ease of use.

FIG. 18 (a) illustrates an order of adding icons to the wallpaper W. As shown in FIG. 18 (a), the icons may be arranged from an upper part X1 to a lower part X4 when the user does not designate specific positions. Additionally, the icons may be arranged from the left to the right on a same line.

As shown in FIG. 18 (b), the first icon I1 may be located on the wallpaper W. When the second icon I2 is added to the wallpaper W (that includes the first icon I1), the second icon I2 may be located on the right of the first icon I1. As shown in FIG. 18 (c), when the first and second icons I1 and I2 are arranged on the first line of the wallpaper W, the third icon I3 may be located on the left of a second line. That is, the icons may be arranged from the top left of the wallpaper to the bottom right of the wallpaper.

The above-described method of controlling the mobile terminal may be written as and/or include computer programs and may be implemented in digital microprocessors that execute programs using a computer readable recording medium. The method of controlling the mobile terminal may be executed through software. The software may include code segments that perform required tasks. Programs or code segments may also be stored in a processor readable medium or may be transmitted according to a computer data signal combined with a carrier through a transmission medium or communication network.

The computer readable recording medium may be any data storage device that can store data that may be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer readable recording medium may include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, DVD±ROM, DVD-RAM, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and/or optical data storage devices. The computer readable recording medium may also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distribution fashion.

A mobile terminal may include a first touch screen to display a first object, a second touch screen to display a second object, and a controller configured to receive a first touch input applied to the first object and to link the first object to a function corresponding to the second object when receiving a second touch input applied to the second object while the first touch input is maintained.

A method may also include displaying a first object on the first touch screen, displaying a second object on the second touch screen, receiving a first touch input applied to the first object, and linking the first object to a function corresponding to the second object when a second touch input applied to the second object is received while the first touch input is maintained.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

1. A mobile terminal comprising: a display to display a first one of a plurality of wallpapers, and to display at least one icon; and a controller to display at least two of the plurality of wallpapers on the display in response to the mobile terminal receiving an input with regard to the displayed icon.
 2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller displays the at least two of the wallpapers on the display when the controller determines that the first one of the wallpapers displayed on the display does not have a vacancy for displaying the icon.
 3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller displays the wallpaper having the vacancy brighter than the wallpapers that do not have a vacancy.
 4. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein is response to the icon being added to a second one of the displayed at least two wallpapers that has the vacancy, the controller enlarges an area of the second one of the wallpapers and displays the enlarged second one of the wallpapers that includes the added icon on the display.
 5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller reduces an area of the first one of the wallpapers displayed on the display such that the at least two of the wallpapers may be displayed on the display.
 6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller inactivates areas of the displayed at least two wallpapers other than an area that has a vacancy to add the icon.
 7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller determines the inactivated area based on a shape of the icon or a size of the icon.
 8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the controller inactivates the areas by making the areas darker.
 9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller further displays wallpaper indicators on the display, the wallpaper indicators corresponding to the displayed at least two wallpapers, respectively.
 10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the controller displays the wallpaper indicator corresponding to a wallpaper having a vacancy for displaying the icon differently from the wallpaper indicator corresponding to a wallpaper not having a vacancy for displaying the icon.
 11. A mobile terminal comprising: a display; and a controller to display a first one of a plurality of wallpapers on the display, and to display at least two of the wallpapers on the display in response to an event of adding an object to the wallpaper, wherein the controller displays the at least two wallpapers in response to the controller determining that the first one of the wallpapers displayed on the display fails to have a vacancy for displaying the object to be added.
 12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller displays the vacancy on one of the wallpapers brighter than the wallpapers that do not have a vacancy.
 13. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein is response to the object being added to a second one of the displayed at least two wallpapers that has the vacancy, the controller enlarges an area of the second one of the wallpapers and displays the enlarged second one of the wallpapers that includes the added object on the display.
 14. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller reduces an area of the first one of the wallpapers displayed on the display when the first one of wallpapers fails to have the vacancy.
 15. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller inactivates areas of the displayed at least two wallpapers other than an area that has the vacancy to receive the object.
 16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller determines the inactivated area based on a shape of the object or a size of the object.
 17. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller further displays wallpaper indicators on the display, the wallpaper indicators corresponding to the displayed at least two wallpapers, respectively.
 18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the controller displays the wallpaper indicator corresponding to a wallpaper having a vacancy for displaying the object differently from the wallpaper indicator corresponding to a wallpaper not having a vacancy for displaying the object.
 19. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, comprising: displaying a first one of a plurality of wallpapers on a display; receiving an input to add an icon to one of the plurality of wallpapers; and displaying at least two of the wallpapers on the display in response to receiving the input and when the displayed first one of the wallpapers fails to have a vacancy for displaying the icon.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein displaying the at least two wallpapers comprises: reducing an area of the first one of the wallpapers displayed on the display; and displaying another one of the plurality of wallpapers in proximity to the first one of the wallpapers having the reduced area.
 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising inactivating areas of the displayed at least two wallpapers other than an area that has the vacancy to display the icon.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the controller inactivates the areas by making the areas darker.
 23. The method of claim 19, further comprising displaying wallpaper indicators on the display corresponding to the displayed at least two wallpapers, respectively. 